Numerical Analysis of Air Convection in a Vertical Cylindrical Container With and Without a Gravitational Field Under a Gradient of a Magnetic Field

Two-dimensional numerical computations were carried out for natural convection of air in a vertical cylindrical container with and without a gravitational field under a gradient of a magnetic field. The magnetic field and the magnetizing force were induced in the cylinder area and the strength and the vectors of the magnetizing force were dependent on the axial location of the electric coil. Sample computations were carried out by changing the relative orientation of an electric coil and container. In a gravitational field, air in a cylindrical container was driven by both gravitational and magnetizing forces. On the other hand, the air flow was induced by the magnetizing force even in a non-gravitational field. Flow pattern and the heat transfer rate greatly depended on the axial position of the electric coil under both gravitational and non-gravitational fields.